St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-02-12

going to the North Pole"
..Ah! a jolly place that" observed
the man. stalking beside her.
THAT'S what Hugh said. and fink
it's, cause they make stars there"
lisped the silvery tongue Of the child.
:.Well, and what them" questioned
the man.
"When get there. I'll ask them to
give me q star to hang round Tibble ..
neck"
"Ah! when you gets there"
"Is it far?" lisped Bette. her childish
ear detecting q something IN the man .
tone she hardly liked.
mo. not far. and I'm going tho
same way"
..Then, will You take me? Then.
when I've got my star. Hugh wouldn't
mind-he' there, you know. and Rosie.
and Jack, and Will-Hugh d not mind
bringing me back"
Eyes, he'd bring you back. and I'll
take YOU there" With this the man
clasped the child's hand in his. and
they trudged on together. And there
was a cart coming along the same way:
"Do you know Hugh?" questioned
Bette.
mo, 1 can't say as do"
..He's my cousin. and big. ever 80
big. and-don't you like me? ques-
toned the pleading little voice. All!
what did the innocent blue eyes ot the
child read in those dark ones peerinY
down at her?
.Oh. yes; think ye're a nice little
girl"
How the little reluctant hand tried to
withdraw itself from the grasp OF the
other!
mo. no. dear. ye're going to tho
North Pole, We know. to get star
here, let me carry ye."
Up he took the small. dainty mite.
who quivered like some poor captive
bird in q strange hand. not knowing
whether it is in the clutches OF fr'end
or foe.
I'm not your little girl. lisped she.
right bravely in her fright. I'm
mammals, and auntie's."
"Ycs, mammals and auntie's little
girl, going to the North Pole along o,
me-" and now the numbering cart came
stealing up over the snowy ground.
':Sallyr' called the man. and then
out came woman's head therefrOm.
..Here's q little girl going to the
North Pole. and I'm going to take her
there; have her in along of you"
..No, no; don't want to wide. want
to walk all by myself" +" was all the pro-
test poor Bette could make.
She clung to the man in her fear; not
because she trusted him; no, because
because-ah! she was within the COW
ered cart, where sat two little boys.
who grinned at her almost from ear To
ear. The woman babe her hush her
long, shrill cries in tone which made
her COVER down. like some; small
animal caught in trap. Mean
while. the cart logged away over the
snowy road among the red sunbeams.
The SNOWFALL had grown to its mon
ster dimensions, and now came the
mighty deed of rolling it; this they did
to the impromptu chorus:
Push on. push up, roll away;
Three cheers for another snowy day.,
the echo thereof straying away. to
mincle with the rumble Of the cart,
along the snowy road. All! the days
triumphs were over. SO they left their
mighty trophy behind-all those roll
licking boys and girls, and went troop
ing home.
"Where is Better asked mamma.
meeting her party in the hall.
1--WE don't know, we haven't got
her. mamma" spoke Hugh. who was
always looked upon rs her guardian.
..She IS not in the house, was the
startling reply.
.Then that was her l saw" cficd
Jack, too much in earnest to think
about his grammar.
EYES," quoth Hugh. now in the grip
of conscience, and away started the lads
to find her.
! The boys knew where they had seen
. her, like little dot among the sun
shine. and they were soon there, rush
ing along the road. where the track OF
the cart still lay. Their companions
joined them as they passed through tho
! village.
There, what was that. on in front? A
carton they went like the wind.
..Master. have you seen little girl
, i'm your way?" asked Hugh of him who
, drove.
mo, little girls amt in my way"
and he whipped up his horse to a trot.
: Eyes, he's seen me. Hugh. Hugh!
! Hughr' cried strained little voice from
within the cart. And the boys heard.
"Why, you've got her yourself!' said
Hugh.
, 1--WE got no little girl; get out Of my
way. or I'll fog and drive over the
: whole lot Of yer" was the retort. rs
they clustered around the horse and
cart like bees.
"I'n not get out" spoke staunch
, Hugh. "Bettie, scream again" But
; no; there was no response-not even .
: sob. "Well, we'll follow you to town
: and have the cart searched" threatened
Hugh. strong in numbers, if not in real
physical force; and 50 they did. like q
: body-guari. alongside the rumbling
:: cart.
e But not to town though; the man
= knew better than tn play the game out;
| he gave the child up to the clamorine